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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what's wrong with running with a stick?

170 replies

Haveyouallgonequitemad · 20/02/2021 00:46

Overheard in the park...
Sebastian come here, come here right now
Small boy age prob 4 runs over to woman
Right no1 why on earth are you running with a stick no 2 why are you waving at the pigeon that is awful behaviour...
I mean ffs what is wrong with a boy playing with a stick and running around with it what's awful about that totally normal and what kids have been doing for years surely..
OK tell him not to wave it at pigeons but the pigeon is only going to fly away did she think he was gonna turn it into a frog with his stick wand or something.
Aibu? No kids play with sticks woman was ridiculous or yes it's highly dangerous to play with sticks in the park woman was right

OP posts:
StanfordPines · 20/02/2021 09:37

If you think that chasing pigeons is fine then I make a huge judgement about you.

You are teaching them that being unkind to something else is a fun thing to do. Moreover by saying ‘it’s just a pigeon’ you are teaching them that it’s fine to make a judgement about whether a living thing is worth being kind to or not.

LaMarschallin · 20/02/2021 09:37

JulietMadeChutney

Depending on Farquar's age

Nice change Smile

Beautiful3 · 20/02/2021 09:39

Because its dangerous to run with sticks. Children fall over many times it's best not to hold a stick while they do it.

DavidsSchitt · 20/02/2021 09:54

You need to lay off the booze love

DavidsSchitt · 20/02/2021 09:58

"Why is it always 'Sebastian' or 'Tarquin' when someone wants to slag off another parent in the park?"

I hate "little Johnny"

LaMarschallin · 20/02/2021 10:07

DavidsSchitt

"Why is it always 'Sebastian' or 'Tarquin' when someone wants to slag off another parent in the park?"

I hate "little Johnny"

In Anthony Bourdain's books he always referred to "little Timmy".
Don't know if that's the US equivalent?

Meowchickameowmeow · 20/02/2021 10:10

Maybe the child was a vampire, we all know how badly that could end.

LaMarschallin · 20/02/2021 10:37

Meowchickameowmeow

Maybe the child was a vampire, we all know how badly that could end.

Good point Smile

Original poster
Haveyouallgonequitemad · 20/02/2021 10:48

Can I just say to the punctuation police as this is a forum and not an english essay I feel no need for punctuation or any need for capitals in the right place either I tried to not leave a space between English and essay just to make a point but the phone likes to play teachers and correct itself I am standing up for all dyslexic/poorly educated/thick/lazy people who don't use useproperlycannot spell or cannot type and make no apologies for lack of grammar punctuation etc in my ramblings

OP posts:
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 20/02/2021 11:11

I feel no need for punctuation

Can see we obviously now OP that.

Sorry, I don't feel the need to put words in the right order. It's not an English essay afterall

Shaniac · 20/02/2021 11:13

@LaMarschallin

Meowchickameowmeow

Maybe the child was a vampire, we all know how badly that could end.

Good point Smile

Or bad point if the child really is a vampire.
Lovely1a2b3c · 20/02/2021 11:16

'Awful behaviour' is ridiculous. 'Don't run with a stick, you might hurt yourself' would be fine!!

Original poster
Haveyouallgonequitemad · 20/02/2021 11:20

Well yes telling a poor little child his behaviour is Awful Awful (she said it twice) is what I take offence with poor little mite

OP posts:
Octane · 20/02/2021 11:23

OP you asked if you're being unreasonable. The answer is clearly a resounding yes.

Do you want to keep arguing about it or just move on now?

Octane · 20/02/2021 11:27

I only accept parents telling kids off for chasing pidgeons if they're vegans. Otherwise, I "make a huge judgement" about them.

PatNextDoor · 20/02/2021 11:27

Put the coffee down, Pam.

FFSAllTheGoodOnesArereadyTaken · 20/02/2021 11:27

It depends surely, crowded park and long stick I'd tell him to drop it before he whacked someone

PugInTheHouse · 20/02/2021 11:29

Another AIBU, MN - yes, OP - no I'm not.

Your OP said he was asked not to run with the stick, then you say he was holding it. Obv holding it is fine, running not OK.

Not really your business either way. We all have things we're protective over, I absolutely hate trampolines so am very cautious with my kids on them, obviously I do allow it but I am not as relaxed as some about them.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 20/02/2021 11:30

@Meowchickameowmeow

Maybe the child was a vampire, we all know how badly that could end.
Grin

If he was a vampire he would of been called Angel or Spike because thats what vampires are called he wasnt called Angel or Spike he was called Oliver Twist Awful Awful I suggest you read the OP's posts properly then there would of been no need for you to say about maybe him being a vampire when clearly he wasn't.

AnaisNun · 20/02/2021 11:30

Oh fuuuuucking hell.

OP are you a parent?

If you are- have you never employed hyperbole or exaggerated with your kids?

If you aren’t- you have no idea how many times that woman might have tried to moderate her kids behaviour that day to
keep them or others safe. She may have been asking them not to dive down the stairs/throw knives across the kitchen/ chase animals/ walk in the road/ run with sticks since 6am. As indeed I find do some days.

And if you saw me, at 5pm, in the park with my quite challenging 4 year old, asking him for the 6 millionth time please NOT to pull at tree branches/chase a duck/ walk into the flower beds, you might well hear me say something like “your listening today is awful” or “this behaviour is ridiculous”

And you’d be well advised to mind your own bloody business.

Trinacham · 20/02/2021 11:31

Bit different but same danger.. my mum's dog recently got impaled with a stick. That's what the lady was most likely worried about, which is sensible. It can and does happen.

grapewine · 20/02/2021 11:32

@Haveyouallgonequitemad

Oh fgs kids choke to death eating healthy food so let's feed them by tube through the nose then "just in case they die" don't let them climb stairs cos they might fall and become paraplegic bla bla bla everyone is soooo overprotective..
You should maybe take a calming breath.
tigger1001 · 20/02/2021 11:32

@Haveyouallgonequitemad

Brown stick small bit like a twig he may not have been called Sebastian but something similar I did hear it. Throwing balls rising bikes skating and running is also dangerous don't get why waving a stick around whilst playing on his own with no other kids around is any worse than that noone eyes were poked out pigeon was fine I overheard and think it is not awful behaviour at all totally normal she also emphasised awful a second time which was ott. I don't know anyone with one eye that had it poked out by a twig so I think it is not only unreasonable but also rather sad.
A friends child ran about with a stick, fell and ended up in hospital with a nasty eye injury. It does happen
itwillallbeokay · 20/02/2021 11:33

@Haveyouallgonequitemad

Oh fgs kids choke to death eating healthy food so let's feed them by tube through the nose then "just in case they die" don't let them climb stairs cos they might fall and become paraplegic bla bla bla everyone is soooo overprotective..
Do you have kids?
grapewine · 20/02/2021 11:34

@Norwester

No running with scissors, pencils, sticks... this is pretty basic good advice.

I'm a bit meh about the pigeons. Rats with wings.

Agree.

And yes, rats with wings. Stealing that.